Mysuru: The continuing practice of British tradition among Police personnel even after seven decades of Independence came up prominently at the 45th ‘Knights in Khaki’ Police Shield presentation ceremony at Olive Garden at the foot of Chamundi Hill yesterday. The event was organised by Mysore Round Table-21 and Mysore Ladies Circle-9.

Inaugurating the event, Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha said that the Police system was established by the British to safeguard their dominance and colonialism. “The system has continued even now with minor changes. And this is the reason there is a public demand to bring in changes in the Police Department and administration,”  the MP said.

“Even wearing the khaki dress is a British tradition. People are scared of the khaki uniform. We need to change the policing system in the interest of the people. Police should behave politely when citizens visit the station,” the MP said.

He regretted that even after so many years, the gap between the Police and the Public have remained the same and there were examples to demonstrate the widening gap and lack of trust between the Police and the common man.

Pointing to a recent incident wherein former Hassan District In-charge Minister A. Manju was pulled up by cops without any proper reason, Pratap Simha said, “Recently, a few Police officers, particularly from the Indian Police Service (IPS) cadre, were trying to imitate ‘Singam’ style of policing. That is not how real policing is done. Real hard-working officers just work to win the hearts of people instead of posting pictures on social media.”

Pratap Simha said that whenever a wrong happens in the society, the first ones to take the blame are the Police and politicians. Teachers and doctors come next. “In spite of such criticism, it is highly appreciable that all of them are doing their good work,” he said.

Recalling the incident where a criminal case was booked against him during the Hanuma Jayanthi in Hunsur by the Mysuru District Police, Pratap Simha said that he was booked for no fault of his.

“Such incidents make people lose faith in the Police. Unfortunately, some IPS officers post in social media that they had taken on a politician. Such officers, who have built their own ‘Fan Clubs’ on social media, do not know the real value of policing and have limited their activities to social media platforms,”  he said.

Giving tips to the Policemen, he said that the Cops, instead of wielding their lathis, showing their heavy boots and registering cases, must try to talk to the warring parties or victims to settle the cases in the interest of humanity. “Most of the cases are solved if there is an element of convincing and friendliness at Police Stations. Police Stations must be converted as people-friendly units where issues are settled through counselling,” he said.

Commending the Police force, the MP said, “If I get an opportunity, I will try to make education, including engineering and medicine courses free for children of Police personnel below the rank of Superintendent of Police.

Mysuru City Police Commissioner Dr. A. Subramanyeswara Rao endorsed Simha’s observations on the need for reforms in the Police system. Expressing his appreciation for Simha, who understood the problems faced by Police personnel, the Commissioner said, “Whenever there is a problem, it is either the Police or politicians who are blamed. After India gained Independence, everyone thought that there would be a complete transformation in the Police system, but it did not happen. Instead, there were small changes made in the IPC and Cr.PC. But the Evidence Act and a few special legislations remain more or less the same. Transforming the system is the need of the hour. And the most important thing is to change our khaki uniform to another colour — it could be white, pink or brown,” he said.